There’s never been a better time to reconnect with music – the tracks you love, the hits you forgot about and the ones you haven’t heard yet. So we’ve rounded up some classics that dropped between 2000 – 2009 for your listening pleasure.
While you’re browsing music libraries, be sure to enter the latest #obeachchallenge for a chance to win a bed with us this summer or next. Get your dancing shoes on and your best lip sync battles ready! Simply recreate a classic house music video using TikTok, tag us on Instagram or TikTok and hashtag #obeachchallenge!
FRANKEE – F U RIGHT BACK 2003
Let’s set the scene, it’s 2003 and there’s a track on the radio none of us can get away from. Eamon released his family friendly version of ‘F U Right Back’ for radio airplay, but ears are pricking up all over the UK at the uncensored version!
What shortly followed was the comeback version by the also unknown Frankee. We still don’t know whether Frankee was actually Eamon’s ex but with lyrics like “F**k all those nights you thought you broke my back, well guess what yo, your sex was whack”, does it really matter?
It’s 2019 and this R&B jam will still get you in the mood for a night with the girls, but you’ll be likely to leave the Trucker hat and velour hoodie at home.
MARIAH CAREY – SHAKE IT OFF 2005
In 2005 it had been almost three years without any new music from Mariah Carey. Her album ‘The Emancipation of Mi Mi’ saw the songstress take a sharp turn from cutesy-named albums such as ‘Charmbracelet’, ‘Glitter’ and ‘Rainbow’ to ‘Stay the Night’ and ‘Get Your Number’.
Produced by Jermaine Dupri, ‘Shake it Off’ doesn’t grow in intensity like many of her previous power ballads but merely transports a listener down smooth roads straight into 2000s heaven.
Let’s be honest, who doesn’t know all the words to this track? It’s almost criminal we haven’t listened to it in so long.
KELIS – BOSSY 2006
Milkshake is one of those career-defining songs. While the beat could almost be described as alternative, we’ve all heard it so many times that in 2019 it can almost be viewed as satirical.
When you look at Kelis’s discography however, her style and genres are very progressive. Her 2010 ‘Fleshtone’ album brought House to the masses in a market flooded with Pop and R&B.
Bossy is aggressive, flirty and fun all at the same time! Not taking any prisoners, Kelis stomps through the chorus and the music video alike. In a world full of Arianas, be a Kelis!
NSYNC – GIRLFRIEND FT. NELLY
In 2002 Justin Timberlake embarked on an easily failed pilgrimage of making himself a credible solo artist. He left a boy band, cut his hair and became a pretty decent solo artist with his first solo album ‘Justified’. Realistically he went from strength to strength (well up until about 2008 anyway).
You would be forgiven for thinking that most of Justin Bieber’s singles have been influenced by the smooth beats and vocals on this track, and even though Biebs has opted for Nicki over Nelly on his tracks, Nelly’s verse is a banger.
NELLY FURTADO – TURN OFF THE LIGHT REMIX 2001
One track that springs to mind when you think of French-Canadian Nelly Furtado is ‘I’m like a bird’, however in 2001 shortly after the release of her hugely popular debut single, Furtado released ‘Turn Off The Light’.
A remix featuring Timbaland shortly followed. The dark beats and Timbaland’s particular vocals really set the scene to a 2000s road trip.
DESTINY’S CHILD – GET ON THE BUS 2000
In an era of Uber, Lyft and Cabify, getting on a bus is about as dated as Destiny’s Child releasing music as a 4 piece. However we’d love to rescue the ‘‘Get on the Bus’ ? was the final song on the girl band’s second studio album “Writing’s on the Wall” and with other hits such as “Bills”, “Say My Name” and “Jumpin’ Jumpin’”, this track could easily be forgotten. The production is an outstanding masterpiece.
MIS-TEEQ WHY 2001
With UK, mainstream garage at its peak, the British music industry did what it does best: find four beautiful girls and give it a nice, shiny pop gloss. Not everything is as it seems with Mis-Teeq however. They almost brought a sense of credibility to their competitors what with S Club 7’s “Never Had a Dream come True” being released in the same year.
Alesha Dixon’s MC breakdowns can often be the butt of a garage joke, “EN-TUUUR”, but they seem to tread that fine line between comedy and cult legend.
Tracks like “One Night Stand” and “B With Me” were played in clubs and on radio with remixes being released as opposed to the more chilled R&B influenced album versions. “Why” however, their lesser known debut single, was garage through and through! And we still love it today.
BIG BROVAZ – FAVOURITE THINGS 2003
Tell us the last time you listened to the radio for over an hour and didn’t hear Ariana Grande – we dare you.
With the release of her ‘The Sound of Music’ influenced ‘7 Rings’, it’s easy to think she’s an innovative contemporary musician but who remembers when Big Brovaz beat her to the chase in 2003?
Two of the members left and became Booty Luv (an unusual band name), but this track is great and still gives us nostalgic chills!
DIZZEE RASCAL – I LUV U 2003
As soon as this track starts it’s clear why Dizzee Rascal won the 2003 Mercury Music Prize for best album. He was the youngest person at 19 years old to do so and the second rapper, after Ms. Dynamite the previous year.
Dizzee has released six albums and countless singles since his Debut “I Luv U” but few have the same edge as his first hit.
LA ROUX – IN FOR THE KILL (SKREAM REMIX) 2009
The newest track on this list is by no means one that should be overlooked. As soon as the deep base intro starts the hairs all over your body will stand on end.
La Roux wasn’t known for this Dub-step style and Skream definitely put their mark on this remix. When you watch this track on YouTube, you’ll be about six tunes deep on the ‘Suggested Videos’ before you even know it! Is it time for a Dub-step revival we didn’t know we needed? Maybe… Is it time to book tickets to ON111? Definitely!
